3 Dream Offseason Acquisitions for the Los Angeles Dodgers

Given the team’s unlimited checkbook, Los Angeles Dodgers fans love to dream about which high-priced superstar will be added to the roster next. And with the offseason finally here, the rumors are swirling and speculation is starting.

In this installment of the Dodgers’ offseason preview, we will take a look at players who are within the organization’s reach, but—by virtue of price tag, opportunity or both—are unlikely to join the Boys in Blue for the 2014 season.

With the recent signing of Alexander Guerrero, second base is likely taken care of for the upcoming season. But the back of the rotation can always be upgraded, and A.J. Ellis’ spot at catcher is far from solidified. Third base is also a question mark, but there are no superstar options available this offseason.

David Price, SP

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Talk about shooting for the moon: David Price, the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner with Tampa Bay, is rumored to be on the market. And the Dodgers, they of the rotation already featuring two former Cy Young winners in Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, have expressed interest.

As mentioned by Peter Gammons, the Dodgers have a conceivable path to acquiring Price, and it would apparently require parting with Corey Seager, Julio Urias and others. But because of the talent they would have to give up—Seager, in particular—and the sheer number of teams interested in the lefty, any acquisition of Price is unlikely.

Masahiro Tanaka, SP

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Tanaka is a more realistic get than Price is, but he still qualifies as a long shot because of the competition the Dodgers will face in pursuing his services. With a price tag expecting to climb near $100 million, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reports that several notoriously wealthy teams like the Yankees, Cubs and Giants will join the Dodgers in the bidding.

Brian McCann, C

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Whether or not the Dodgers will even pursue a catcher is a legitimate question, but it is indeed a question. A.J. Ellis is a good player on a good contract (he’s just become arbitration-eligible), but he isn’t a star by any means. Brian McCann is.

His 2012 wRC+ was under 87—the only time he’s posted a number under 119 since 2007. He would provide an offensive upgrade on Ellis, and catcher is one of the few positions the Dodgers can upgrade at without tossing aside a high-priced regular.

In September, MLB Trade Rumors’s Tim Dierkes profiled McCann and mentioned that the Dodgers are a “viable option.” This does not mean Ned Colletti has to make a push for the catcher, but the idea is in play.